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Another Big Ten matchup is here. This time, Michigan State basketball plays against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa is ranked no. 20 in the nation and features one of the best Big Ten players in Luka Garza. Michigan State must play their best game this year to beat the Hawkeyes.
Here are the five most important players in this game:
1. Cassius Winston
Normally, I do not include Cassius Winston on my 5 most important player lists but this game is really important. Thus, Cassius must lead the Spartans to victory against Iowa. MSU needs at least 23 points from Winston. Furthermore, he must trim down the turnovers. He averages 3.2 so far this season and must turn the ball over less than three times against the Hawkeyes.
2. Marcus Bingham Jr.
As I’ve said before, Iowa boasts an elite talent in Luka Garza. Garza is 6’11”, the same height as Marcus Bingham Jr. So Izzo will likely put Bingham Jr. on Garza during this game. Bingham has faired well against Big Ten big men including Kofi Cockburn. Garza is a different kind of animal though. Bingham’s defensive performance will dictate the outcome of this game.
3. Xavier Tillman
Luka Garza is not just an offensive monster, he is a really good rebounder. So naturally, Xavier Tillman is also one of the most important MSU players in this game. Tillman is a defensive anchor who can help out against Garza in the post. Furthermore, Tillman swallows up rebounds at an impressive rate. He will have to play aggressively and intelligently against Iowa.
4. Aaron Henry
I will never ever take Aaron Henry off this list. He can swing just about any game with an efficient offensive performance. Likewise, his good defensive performances go a long way for the Spartans. 15-plus points from Henry can do a lot for Michigan State against the Hawkeyes. Especially if another key Spartan player shows up…
5. Gabe Brown
Gabe Brown went crazy against Nebraska with 17 points, shooting 63% from three-point land. Can Brown do this again on Tuesday against Iowa? Yes, he certainly can. Will Gabe Brown score 17 points or more? Only time will tell. One fact remains, he is immensely important to Michigan State’s success.
Watch the game live on ESPN2 this Tuesday, on Feb. 25 at 7 P.M.
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